10 Ways to Spot and Avoid Credit Card Phishing Cons Online

3 03 2008

One of the worst problems affecting internet users today is the popularity of what is known as a phishing scheme. If you are not familiar with how these schemes work, a person will pretend to be a company that you trust. You’ll be sent an email or redirected to a website that will ask you to enter in your personal information to verify your account. The problem is that your information is not sent to the company you thought you were dealing with, it goes right to the phisher. This has led to hundreds of thousands on dollars in fraud. Here are ten ways that you can spot and avoid a nasty surprise on your next credit card balance!

  1. Look at the URL - A company that you trust, such as PayPal, will not have a strange URL.
  2. Check the email address - When you get a phishing email, it may look as though it is coming from the actual company. However, if you click on View Headers in your email program, you’ll see that it is actually a much different address.
  3. Install a plugin on your browser - One of the best ways to make sure you don’t fall prey to phishing scams is to install the Safe Browsing plugin that is available for Firefox users from Google.
  4. Don’t believe everything you read - Phishing emails will usually tell you that your account is going to be deactivated unless you take quick action. Legitimate companies do not do this.
  5. Look for a secure symbol - Phishing websites do not secure your information, while legitimate companies will.
  6. Look for errors - Phishers are not the best when it comes to correct English. If you spot grammatical or spelling errors in an email, be wary.
  7. No account open? - You might not have an account with the company listed in the email. If you don’t have a Bank of America or PayPal account and you get an email about your account with them, it’s most likely a phishing scheme.
  8. Generic greetings - Most phishers will use a generic greeting instead of your real name or user name.
  9. Asking for information that isn’t necessary - A phishing site will typically ask for your driver’s license number. Most companies don’t need this.
  10. Email has an attachment - Because they are including graphics from a real site, a phishing email will usually have attachments. Normal emails from respected companies do not.


The Nokia N96 is taking over the UK

1 03 2008

Mobile phones are getting more advanced all the time. Which handset do you select? What we should consider when dissecting these rather technologically superior handhelds, is can they operate the basic things.
Take the nokia n96 as an example.
This phone has an enormous 16 gigabytes of internal capacity making it match the ipod. Never before have we experienced such an amazing mobile phone.
Do these kinds of gadgets really become huge hits? Usually they will because they are simple and effective. Next up sees Nokia’s biggest rival, Sony Ericsson.
The Sony Ericsson w760i is a device that wants to beat Nokia to the finish line.
So is the Sony Ericsson W760i the one you should look at? We think so, it is a remarkable device. The Nokia N82 is another gadget designed for the business man, we believe that this one will be a massive success.